cemetaries

i have a hobby of doing headstone rubbings and i have been to every graveyard big and small in the county.  it dawned on me that people might pull out the old hankie with a few coins falling.  in the newer ones there usually is a caretaker, but in the real old ones there isn't.  what are the rules/etiquette for hunting here?  is it sacreligious or illegal to just start MDing?

Certified,

I'd never think about detectin a cemetery.  My gut tells my there's something disrespectful about it   ;)

Congrats on your 1st post   ;)

Welcome to Tnet.  I think it a moral, and personal thing.  I personally would not dig in cemetaires. I think about my daddy's grave.  If I saw where someone had MD'ed there I would be outraged! 

I'm not judging you if you decide too.  I'm just telling you the way I feel about it.

Pepper

I'd say don't. It would probably feel wrong, you will constantly look over your shoulder, and Im sure if you asked the takers or what not, they would not allow you to.

[Goldfinger]

It is/was not uncommon for people to place coins on headstones.  I guess the same concept as a wishing well.  Goes back to putting pennies on the departed's eyes or placing coins in the grave to pay the ferryman (Charon?) on the River Styx to cross-over into the afterlife/underworld (even Christians keep some respect for the old gods).

I sure wouldn't want someone to be digging around my dad's or other ancestor's grave; or for me to be seen digging around with a trowel in a cemetary.  Just a personal thing, I guess, but pretty rude IMHO.  "Ghoul" is not a term of endearment.

 Good way to get shot.
Id say no just out of respect for the departed.

I would say Taboo.  Remember what happened to Jeremiah Johnson for just walking through a burial ground?  It could haunt you for the rest of your life.

Personally I feel it's disgraceful to walk across someones grave, let alone trying to pop a coin out, but that's my own belief.

The other thing that I kind of keep in the back of my mind is, will my actions give the politicos another bullet to fire in the ban the detectorist war. And my actions will affect more than just me.

BTW Welcome! You'll like it here! Lots of knowledgeable and friendly people here.

Nope...wouldn't do it...bad karma...could also be harmful to the MD'ing community.
BTW, Welcome to TNet!
HH

if i saw someone detecting in a cemetery  first thing to pop in my mind  would be grave robber with shovel in hand!!!!!   just bad all around idea!

Think this has come up a few times in the past ;)

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,61363.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,64213.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,71897.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,52824.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,35096.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,52327.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,6911.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,70182.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,89783.0.html

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=92594.0;topicseen

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php?topic=61363.0;topicseen

http://forum.treasurenet.com/index.php/topic,122835.0.html


all have a good un......
SHERMANVILLE

I would avoid the Cemetary, but right outside the cemetary is probably ok.  A large number of cemetaries (old ones) were located next to churches, do a little research and see, then take your time and look around the outside the boundries and see what you could come up with.

I would avoid the actual cemetary itself for all the reasons mentioned above and its also important to remember when your out detecting your representing all who love this hobbie (addicttion, way of live, reason to live . . . etc  )

HH and be careful

PTP

i personally wouldn't care if someone was detecting over me, but i would never detect in a cemetery or burial grounds, Ive already had a couple freaky exp. to be messing with that

If you do.......  Don't forget to use your Gray Ghost headphones

Couldn't resist

Thanx Sherman, thats exactly what i was thinking.  I started at the bottom to see if maybe this one was different then i came across your post.  I still dont understand why people have to ask about it.  Im sure that people opinions on here are not going to change anyone personal convictions about whether to do it or not to do it. 

i personally wouldn't care if someone was detecting over me,

If you Did Somone Better Dig you Back up Quick 

Thanx Sherman, thats exactly what i was thinking.  I started at the bottom to see if maybe this one was different then i came across your post.  I still dont understand why people have to ask about it.  Im sure that people opinions on here are not going to change anyone personal convictions about whether to do it or not to do it. 

jonnyrebel00,

think it was the posters first post.  No harm in the asking.

And some of the new members may not have seen the old posts.

Yes, "opinions on here are not going to change"                        

have a good un......
SHERMANVILLE

oh i know it was his first, but it still bothers me the amount of people that have to ask about it.  Ill let it be.  Thanx again for pulling up the older post for reference for him.

i think you have gotten your answer! ;)....bad juju.

hmmm im been racking my brains trying to figure out a place to bury my fortune in gold that you guys would never find...now i know.   lol       but all aside i agree....  i say its ok to detect there just dont do any digging ...yikes its a grave yard digging there would just not be respectfull.

First let me say I would not detect in a cemetary, but lets look at this in a hypothetical way we might not have thought of . Lets say we were in the woods doing some detecting and started hitting alot of old coins. Lets say we have already dug several early 1900's and some late 1800's coins. Next thing we notice in the thick undergrowth is what's left of an old wrought iron fence and after looking some more we are actually inside what was an old out of the way cemetary. Do you leave all the coins there or take them and leave? I say this because down here in the deep south you can easily be MDing in the woods and find a headstone. Tim

Simple to me, if you want tombstone etchings , fine. If you enjoy old
tombstones & the tranquility, good. But leave the detector at home or
in the car, it's not a place I would want to be seen digging around in.
It's not called a resting ground for no reason. We should allow them that
respect.

First let me say I would not detect in a cemetary, but lets look at this in a hypothetical way we might not have thought of . Lets say we were in the woods doing some detecting and started hitting alot of old coins. Lets say we have already dug several early 1900's and some late 1800's coins. Next thing we notice in the thick undergrowth is what's left of an old wrought iron fence and after looking some more we are actually inside what was an old out of the way cemetary. Do you leave all the coins there or take them and leave? I say this because down here in the deep south you can easily be MDing in the woods and find a headstone. Tim

I have seen many fields in the deep south that have small fences around a few graves in the fields.  I have yet to see one in the middle of no where without a marker.  If I did run up on one that I did not realize was a grave then saw the marker afterward I would leave the coins and bury them where I dug.  I'm not in this hobby to get rich.  I'm in it to have fun.  I also want to show the world that we who MD are not out to rob.....get rich....instead I want them to know most of us are respectful, have a hobby we love. 

All I can say is... to each his own path.  I know what my path is.  I can tell others how I feel about things such as this topic, but I will not tell you what to do.  You have your own path to walk in this life time good or bad.  We each have to live with what we do in life.

Pepper

Pepper, I total agree with you on this one. I recently found an old family cemetary in the woods near where I work. I have permission to detect the land and even though I haven't found any thing but trash, I am going to stay away from that place. The only marker in the small plot is an old wooden cross that is mostly rotted away. This town predates 1880 and I know there has to be some good stuff hiding in the ground, I just have to find it. BUT I will not be going back anywhere near the burial plot. My grandma was Creek Indian and taught us as small kids that those places are sacred grounds! Take care, Tim

Get permission, don't dig over the graves.  Good luck, and who really gives a crap what people on some website say.  I would be willing to bet most of these people would have no problem detecting Gettysburg or a sunken ship.  Gettysburg is what I would consider sacred ground.  A sunken ship is nothing but a grave at sea. 

Jim, I am glad your path leads you away from a burial ground.  My mama's , mama was Cherokee.  She taught me many things in her short life time.  I was young but her words have always stayed with me.   I was six years old when she died....but I can remember her teaching's better than my parental grandmother (who was blue blood and could trace her family back to 1600's and lived to be 92).   

I wish you luck in your hunts.  Look at my arrowheads.  Most where made by Creek Indians.  They where artist.

HH,
Pepper

had a day off to check replies.  i figured someone had posited this question before.  thanks for bearing with me.  i felt hesitant so that's why i asked.  good advice about the churches nearby.. i think i'll try a couple of those. i agree with most of you.  guess there are plenty of other spots.  thanks.

I don't think I would MD in a cemetary... there's just something creepy about it...    Even though the dearly departed have long since moved on, it's just a bit too creepy for me.  Also, I think it is illegal to be doing any digging in a cemetary.  Maybe if the coins were lying on the surface...    It just depends on what your morals and beliefs (and your local law) tell you.  ;)

Raven

I'm going searching near an old cemetary sometime in the upcoming months.  I just started hanging out with this girl and I was talking with her about my new hobby, and she told me that she has a friend who owns like 30 acres that is actually near where we live (indianapolis).  She said that way out in the middle of his property is a very small cemetary, 5-10 headstones, and the only date she can recall is 1832. I'm assuming that this area was once populated, or at least home to a family...so I'm excited to hunt that area. I will refrain from digging on or near the actual gravesites. How close is too close? 10, 15 foot perimeter around the headstones?

FYI. In Maryland, my state, you connot move a grave without approval. To help reinforce this reg. they also say you may not dig up a grave. Even though you may only go a couple of inches down to retrieve a signal you will catch a lot of flack and probably at minimal end up in court if caught. Legal matters aside I think it depends on "RESPECT". Basically what you have for others, the deceased, family, etc. With this in mine I do not hunt on graves, but I do go about as close as 10 feet to a clearly marked edge. I do like to detect any dirt (Parking?) areas next to graveyards and find they are as productive and not near as contreversal.

Ed D.

Well, I see the newspapers and TV news, but it is very rare number happens...hmm, sometime, people look for oldest coins in the field, but other people saw them and call the police to caught them.

I see few places have the fence up and lock the gate, that why, several people were hunt one the field as use metal detector on the field several times, steal or any damage on the headstones, etc.

Richard 

Personally, I would never hunt in a cemetary. Outside of it yes, but not inside. I just think it wouldn't be right.

The dreaded cemetary post. You've got guts, man! Props to you!

I've often wondered about this myself. I've even had co workers and some ppl I know (who know I'm into this hobby) suggest an old graveyard here and there. This is coming from folks who have never even held a detector. I wouldn't say dig the graves themselves. That does seem disrespectful. But I don't see what's wrong with going around them. I'm sure the residents won't care! It's not them I'd be afraid of. It's the living I'd be worried about.

Besides, archeaologists dig up dead folks all the time and we like hearing/reading about those. The same with Indian/Egyptian burial grounds, sunken ships, etc. Maybe your family bought so and so plot(s). However, you didn't buy what's around it!!! Whatever.

Anyways...to each their own. Best check to see if it's even legal should you wanna give it a try. Cheers!